Charging plug device

ABSTRACT

The charging plug device of the present invention comprises a casing of an electrical apparatus containing a charging means and a plug member, the pins of which can be pushed out of the casing or housed therein simply by rotating the plug member while it is fitted to one end of the casing.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Teruo Ham Tokyo, Japan [21] Appl. No. 811,705

[22] Filed Apr. 1, 1969 [45] Patented Mar. 9, 1971 [73] Assignee Crown Radio Corporation Tokyo, Japan [32] Priority Apr. 1, 1968 [54] CHARGING PLUG DEVICE 3 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 339/36,

339/7, 339/31, 339/34, 339/36, 339/196 [5l] Int. Cl ..H01r 13/44, l-lOlr 29/00, HOlr 33/00 [50] Field ofSearch 339/31, 34, 36, 37, 4, 7, 44,195,196

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,957,156 10/1960 Gatto et al 339/31 3,189,862 6/1965 Vleerick et a1. 339/34 3,458,794 7/1969 Bohnstedt et a1. 339/34X Primary ExaminerMarvin A. Champion Assistant ExaminerTerrell P. Lewis Attomey-George B. Oujevolk ABSTRACT: The charging plug device of the present invention comprises a casing of an electrical apparatus containing a charging means and a plug member, the pins of which can be pushed out of the casing or housed therein simply by rotating the plug member while it is fitted to one end of the casing.

' Patented March 9, 1971 3,569,902

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 y Patented March 9, 1971 3,569,902

2. Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

CHARGING PLUG DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION I The present invention relates to improvements in a charging plug device to be used with an electrical apparatus equipped with a charging means.

The conventional charging plug device was used by connecting an electrical apparatus to be charged to a power source by means of cords. The handling of such charging device takes time and also the plug member may be lost by chance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is to provide a charging plug device which permits easy handling and the miniaturization of an electrical apparatus by allowing the plug pins of a plug member to be pushed out of the casing of an electrical apparatus or housed therein simply by rotating the plug member while it is fitted to the electrical apparatus. The arrangement contemplated herein also eliminates the necessity of using cords or the possibility of the plug member being lost.

BRIEF EXPLANATION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view, with part broken away, of a charging plug device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the same;

FIGS. 3A to 3D are perspective views illustrating the operation of a charging plug device according to the invention; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is a cutaway portion 2 having an L-shaped cross section at the end of a casing l of an electrical apparatus containing a charging means or a secondary cell. The cutaway portion 2 has a plug fitting member 3 rotatably fitted, and carrying plug pins 4 and 5 by means of an axle 6 around which is wound a coiled spring 7. The plug fitting member 3 has a long groove 8 formed on both sides. There is also provided a cover 9 so as to close the aforesaid cutaway portion 2. On both inner surfaces of the cover 9 is a narrow protrusion 10 slidable through the long groove 8. On the front of the cover 9 there is a stepped cutaway portion 11 (FIGS. 3A and 3B) engaging with the casing 1 of an electrical apparatus while its charging means is receiving power and a lip member 12 engaging with said casing 1 when the electrical apparatus is in an ordinary operating condition. As shown in FIGS. 3C and 3D, there is an inward projection 13 under the aforesaid lip member 12.

The following is a description of the operation of a charging plug device of the present invention. FIG. 3A presents a charging plug device whose plug pins 4 and 5 are housed in the casing 1 of an electrical apparatus. When an electrical apparatus has its charging means in a discharged stage, the plug device is brought to the position shown in FIG. 3A. When it is desired to use the plug device for charging, the cover 9 is made to slide in the direction of the arrow A of FIG. 38 so as to disengage the lip member 12 from the casing l of the electrical apparatus. Then the cover 9, together with the plug fitting member .3, is rotated with or around the support axle 6 approximately .l 8 0 in the direction of the arrow B of FIG. 3B

to bring the plug device to the position indicated in FIG. 3C. When, as shown in FIG. 3D, the cover 9 is made to slide in the direction of the arrow C, namely, opposite to the direction of the arrow A and the projection 13 is allowed to contact the fitting member 3 so as to cause the cutaway portion 11 to engage the casing l of the electrical apparatus, then the plug pins 4 and 5 can be pushed out of the casing, and thus bring the device to a charging position.

Upon completion of charging, when the normal operation of an electrical apparatus is resumed the plug device is handled in the reverse order to that described above, namely, to receive the plug pins 4 and 5 into the casing 1 of the electrical apparatus as illustrated in FIG. 3A.

The cover 14 may be formed so as to have a tapered cross section on its upper surface as shown in FIG. 4. The tapered section will easily engage the casing 1.

As hereinbefore mentioned, the present invention provides for a charging plug device which pennits easy handling and the miniaturization of an electrical apparatus by allowing the plug pins of a plug member to be pushed out of the casing of the electrical apparatus or received therein simply by rotating the plug member while it is fitted to the electrical apparatus, and also eliminates the necessity of using cords or the possibility of the plug member being lost.

I claim:

1. In a charging plug device having a casing of an electrical apparatus which houses a secondary cell or charging means and a plug member, the pins of which can be pushed outside of the casing or received therein by rotating said plug member while it is fitted to the electrical apparatus, the improvement therein wherein the casing of the electrical apparatus has a cutaway portion formed at one end, and the plug member comprises a plug fitting member rotatable through the cutaway portion and provided with plug pins and a cover so disposed as to slide with the plug fitting member and close the casing of the electrical apparatus whereby the pins of the plug member can be pushed out of the casing of the electrical apparatus by first allowing the cover to slide straight in one direction so as to be disengaged from the casing and then both cover and plug fitting member to rotate together and thereafter causing the cover to slide straight again in the opposite direction to engage the casing.

2. The charging plug device according to claim 1 wherein the plug fitting member has a long groove formed on both sides and a rotary support axle inserted at the center and wound with a coil spring, both inner surfaces of the cover are provided with a narrow projection slidable through the long groove, and the front and rear sides of the cover respectively have a cutaway portion to engage the casing of the electrical apparatus while it is being charged and a lip member to engage said casing at the time of discharge, the lip member being provided with an inward projection thereunder.

3. The charging plug device according to claim 1 wherein the plug fitting member has a long groove formed on both sides and a rotary support axle inserted at the center and wound with a coil spring, the cover being provided with a narrow projection slidable through the long groove on both inner surfaces thereof, with a tapered cross section on the upper surface thereof to engage the casing of the electrical apparatus while it is being charged and with a lip member on the rear side thereof to engage said casing at the time of discharge, the lip member being provided with an inward projection thereunder. 

1. In a charging plug device having a casing of an electrical apparatus which houses a secondary cell or charging means and a plug member, the pins of which can be pushed outside of the casing or received therein by rotating said plug member while it is fitted to the electrical apparatus, the improvement therein wherein the casing of the electrical apparatus has a cutaway portion formed at one end, and the plug member comprises a plug fitting member rotatable through the cutaway portion and provided with plug pins and a cover so disposed as to slide with the plug fitting member and close the casing of the electrical apparatus whereby the pins of the plug member can be pushed out of the casing of the electrical apparatus by first allowing the cover to slide straight in one direction so as to be disengaged from the casing and then both cover and plug fitting member to rotate together and thereafter causing the cover to slide straight again in the opposite direction to engage the casing.
 2. The charging plug device according to claim 1 wherein the plug fitting member has a long groove formed on both sides and a rotary support axle inserted at the center and wound with a coil spring, both inner surfaces of the cover are provided with a narrow projection slidable through the long groove, and the front and rear sides of the cover respectively have a cutaway portion to engage the casing of the electrical apparatus while it is being charged and a lip member to engage said casing at the time of discharge, the lip member being provided with an inward projection thereunder.
 3. The charging plug device according to claim 1 wherein the plug fitting member has a long groove formed on both sides and a rotary support axle inserted at the center and wound with a coil spring, the cover being provided with a narrow projection slidable through the long groove on both inner surfaces thereof, with a tapered cross section on the upper surface thereof to engage the casing of the electrical apparatus while it is being charged and with a lip member on the rear side thereof to engage said casing at the time of discharge, the lip member being provided with an inward projection thereunder. 